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QAA Access to HE Diploma (Science) - Day (2018-2020)

Course Level:

Level 3

Job opportunities after this course:

This course can be used to support entry into higher education or employment. Previous students have gone on to study at a variety of HEI's in the region and across the country. Likely HE courses include: para-medical careers, biomedical science, biology, pharmacy/pharmacology, chemistry, mathematics, psychology. Please note that completion of the course is not a guarantee of entry onto a degree course, you must apply to higher education through the UCAS system and some higher education institutions may have additional entry requirements.

Overview of the course:

Awarding Body - One Awards

The course is the perfect preparation for mature students who want to study a science related degree course. The first unit of the course focuses on Study Skills and application to university. The course is divided into two semesters which have a range of units in them. Units are graded at either a pass, merit or distinction – the credits available for each unit range between 3 and 9.

Entry requirements:

As GCSE Maths and English are often a requirement to progress to Higher Education we would prefer you to have passed GCSE in these subjects at grade 4 or above. Alternatively, equivalent level 2 qualifications may be acceptable.

Topics:

•Study Skills – helps you plan your time and develop the skills that are essential for success on your access course.
•Exam Technique – helps you maximise your technique for both your Access course and university. The unit also looks at how you can manage exam stress.
•ICT – develops your software skills and how best to utilise programmes to suit the demands of your studies.
•HE Research – prepares you for you university application and how to decide on the best course for you.
•Applied Psychology – theoretical perspectives and the major research methods that are used in the discipline of psychology. Plus the exploration of a variety of concepts including abnormality and behaviour.
•Core Science – covers (i) elements, biological molecules, genetics, energy sources and radioactivity, and (ii) the practical application of the scientific process to investigate, test and report on a hypothesis.
•Biology – understanding of Biological concepts such as: chemical structures, biological macromolecules, cells and tissues, energy transfer in living things, control mechanisms, nutrition, growth and reproduction.
•Maths: Algebra, Data and Statistics – covers a range of mathematical principals that are important for study at HE.
•Chemistry – develops understanding of elements, chemical formulae, the mole, sub-atomic structure, crystalline bonding, the Periodic Table, intermolecular forces, rate controlling factors, basic electrochemistry and the identification of simple organic compounds.

How is the course assessed?:

You will be assessed by a variety of methods which may include: essays, written assignments, seen exams, unseen exams, academic posters, debates, research projects, presentations, analysis of published articles, etc.

Further study options after this course:

The course can be used to support entry into higher education such as HNC/D, Foundation Degree, Degree at university or college or can also be used to support entry into employment. Before choosing which Access to HE Diploma you would like to study you are advised to research ahead by looking at the UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions System) website, www.ucas.com

Length of the course:

Two Year, Full Time - Day time study consists of 12 hours study over several days.

More important information about this course:

If you have been a UK resident for the past 3 years and are under the age of 19 on the 31st August, you will not usually need to pay any course fees.

If you are aged 19-23 on the day your main course starts and do not have a level 3 or above qualification you may not have any fees to pay.

If you do have a level 3 or above qualification or you are aged 24 years or over on the day your main course starts you may be able to take out an Advanced Learning Loan to pay for this course.

Even better news is that Student Finance England will ‘write off’ any outstanding Advanced Learning Loans you owe for an Access to HE course if you complete a higher education course. This means you don’t have to repay it.

Once you have been interviewed and accepted on to the course we will give you all of the information you need to apply for your Advanced Learning Loan.

This course is not available for learners aged under 19 years old

For a more accurate fee assessment please contact our Student Services team on 0191 518 8222.

*We make every effort to publish correct fees, however all fees are subject to change. Fees are correct as at the current time (21 Feb 2018 21:09) and are subject to change up to the date of enrolment. Fees quoted are payable annually

What our students say:

We regularly work with QDP, the UK’s largest independent provider of questionnaire based feedback services to the education sector, so that any results can be benchmarked against other colleges and the voices of over 600,000 learners QDP gathers feedback from over the course of an academic year.

Our feedback scores consistently place us in the top quartile of colleges in the country, indicating that we not only meet but often exceed student expectations. Some results from the 2015/2016 on programme and exit surveys and the 2016/17 induction survey can be seen below.

98% stated it was easy to apply for the course
96% said the teaching on my course is good
99% felt that their teacher knows their subject well
97% told us they felt safe at college
98% said expected standards of behaviour were made clear
95% told us they felt they had developed the skills they needed to get a job/take their next step
95% agreed the teachers consistently challenge them to do their best
97% said teacher feedback told them what was going well and where to improve
Other comments by students on this course are:

The following information comes from Career Explorer, an online tool designed to help you research your education and career options. Here you will find information on jobs right here in the region, including links to actual job vacancies, potential earnings and our courses that can help you achieve an outstanding future. Click here to explore Career Explorer further..

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How to apply:

To apply online for this course, please click on the 'Apply for this course' button below.
Alternatively, if you need assistance with your application or you would like to apply over the phone or using a paper-based application form, please call Student Services on 0191 518 8222.